Multiple purpose eating utensil assembly

ABSTRACT

A multi-purpose device assembly for eating and for non-eating purposes. In addition to having the functionality of an eating utensil, the device is-generally or nearly flattened or planar to accommodate non-eating functions that would otherwise be difficult or impossible using an eating utensil according to a conventional configuration.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to UK Patent Application No. 1007437.5filed May 1, 2010.

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a device assembly that can beused for multiple purposes and more specifically to an improved eatingutensil assembly that is packaged in a flat or nearly flatconfiguration. The eating utensil assembly can be readily separated intosingle or multiple eating utensils or implements and can accommodatenon-eating purposes in addition to their functionality as eatingimplements.

Eating utensils or implements, such as the fork, knife, spoon or pickare known in the art and are common items of cutlery that are used foreating. Eating utensils have generally evolved into a particular formthat allows for the handling and manipulation of food by the user.Traditionally, the knife, fork, spoon or pick, come as separate piecesand the art has favored particular shapes and dimensions that haveevolved over time in order to accommodate convention and ease of use orstorage in a home or at a restaurant or other food service sites.

Hybrid forms of eating utensils have also been created in order to allowfor alternative functionality or multiple purpose use for the sameeating utensil or implement. For example, a spoon and fork hybrid isavailable, where the spoon and the fork member are formed at a commonend of the same eating implement or piece of cutlery. Examples of eatingutensils that can be used for multiple purposes are well known in theart. Combination forms of eating utensils, such as a fork and spooncombination where the spoon and the fork members are on opposite ends ofthe same piece of cutlery, have also been developed. Hybrid andcombination eating utensils have been developed for different reasons.The art is filled with examples of eating utensils that attempt tosatisfy the need for a single utensil that can be used for multiplepurposes such as the manipulation function of a fork with the transferfunction of a spoon or the cutting function of a knife. Accordingly,various knife, fork and spoon combinations and hybrids are known wherethe combination or hybrid is present in a single eating utensil or pieceof cutlery. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 33,285 to Ames discloses acombination of a knife, fork and spoon where a spoon or fork is at theopposite end of a utensil that also has a knife. Further examples ofutensils that employ combinations or hybrids of knife, forks and spoonsare disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 147,119 to Francis; U.S. Pat. No. 462,068to Sheppman; U.S. Pat. No. 843,953 to Laramy; U.S. Pat. No. 2,185,942 toFrank; U.S. Pat. No. 2,473,288 to McNeill; U.S. Pat. No. 2,542,600toVaccarezza; U.S. Pat. No. 2,839,830 Neiman, Jr.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,535,533to Nelson; U.S. Pat. No. 4,984,367 to Albanese: U.S. Pat. No. 34,718;U.S. Pat. No. 1,488,463 to Abram; U.S. Pat. No. 2,318,129 to Torode andU.S. Pat. No. 5,845,403 to Nivin.

The eating utensils described in the art do not accord much flexibilityin how the cutlery can be delivered to the user and the purposes forwhich the cutlery can be used. A limitation of the prior art eatingutensils is that in order to permit ease of functioning, the foodengagement portions thereof are generally formed in conventional shapesthat are convex and curved. The configurations of prior art eatingutensils accommodate the need for nesting of the utensils during storageor accommodate particular and intended manipulation with the hands. Theconfigurations of the prior art utensils have a number of downsides.Firstly, such utensils are not flattened and cannot be easily storedwithout nesting the utensils together. Secondly, such utensils are moredifficult to transport or deliver to the user. Thirdly, such utensilscannot easily be used for other non-eating purposes that would requireplanar, flat, or nearly planar or nearly flat configurations.Furthermore, the traditional shapes and dimensions of conventionalcutlery do not allow for the fusion or joining of multiple forms ofcutlery that can be delivered as a single intact piece prior to use,thereby making the utensils easy to deliver to the user.

Accordingly, it is desirable in the art to provide combination eatingutensils that include food engagement portions or implements that are ina planar or nearly planar configuration that allows for ease of transferto the user and for other non-eating purposes that require flat ornearly flattened or planar or nearly planar configurations. Despite thenumber of devices on the market, there remains a need for an implementwhich can be used for multiple eating and non-eating purposes and thatcan be easily delivered to the end-user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is an eating utensil assembly that can be easilydelivered to the user and that can accommodate other non-eatingpurposes. In a first embodiment, the invention is a set of at least one,but preferably multiple eating utensils that are joined together anddelivered to the user as a single intact device that can be used as aneating utensil upon separation of the various eating utensil implementsfrom each other. In another embodiment, the eating utensil assembly hasmultiple food engagement members that are joined together and deliveredto the user in a flat or nearly flat or planar or nearly planarconfiguration. Each of the multiple food engagement members is situatedin its own segment of the device. In another embodiment of the presentinvention, the segments are fused or joined together so that thesegments form a single unit or piece when the device is delivered to theuser. The junction between the fused or joined segments or portions canbe weakened or made susceptible to separation by pressure so that thesegments can be easily separated from each other without damaging thefunctionality of the eating utensils or food engagement members therein.

According to other aspects of the invention, the invention is capable ofbeing separated into combinations of eating utensils at the discretionof the user. This is because each segment can accommodate a complete setor subset of eating implements or food engagement members, such as afork, knife, spoon and pick, in any combination.

In other embodiments of the invention, the food engagement member can beused for other non-eating functions, such as for the clipping of paperstogether. By way of example, in one embodiment, the eating utensilassembly has a fork member that can be used for eating, where the tinesof the fork can alternatively be used to clip papers or other articlesor materials together. In yet other embodiments of the invention, thenearly flat or flat configuration allows the device to be easilypackaged and delivered to the user and allows for other non-eatingfunctions, such as a bookmark or a coaster or to accommodate branding ormessaging or other personalized text or imagery as required by the user.

An object of the present invention is to provide a set of eatingutensils that can accommodate other non-eating purposes. Another objectof the present invention is to provide a set of eating utensils whereinthe food engagement portions thereof are formed in a planar or nearlyplanar configuration so that the utensil can be delivered to the usereasily and to allow for stacking of the assemblies together. Anotherobject of the present invention is to minimize the number of separateutensils required for a user to have in hand in order to accommodate anyeating task. A further object of the present invention is to provide forthe delivery of utensils for multiple users as a single piece or unitthat can be shared or divided. A further object of the present inventionis to provide for the delivery of utensils for all eating functions,such as fork, knife, spoon or pick as a single piece of unit. A stillfurther object of the present invention is to provide a set of eatingutensils that can be used in the alternative for non-eating purposessuch as a paper clip or as coasters or to accommodate messaging or text,or imagery or branding or the like. It is also an object of the presentinvention to provide a set of eating utensils suitable for printing oraffixation of a trademark, logo or other commercial symbol.

The present invention redefines the relationship between the positiveand negative spaces in a tradition eating utensil. By replacing thenegative spaces between a traditional fork tine or prong, with asecondary positive shape, the notion of a “yin and yang” cutlery tool isborn. The invention promotes the idea of sharing in eating. These andother objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentto those skilled in the art from the following description of preferredembodiments, claims and appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary as well as the following detailed description ofthe preferred embodiments of the present invention will be bestunderstood when considered in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein like designations denote like elements throughout thedrawings, and wherein;

FIG. 1 is a top view perspective of a first embodiment of themulti-purpose eating utensil in accordance with the present inventionshowing an embodiment with two segments that are in the joinedconfiguration as a single unit or piece.

FIG. 2 is a top view perspective of the first embodiment of themulti-purpose eating utensil in accordance with the present inventionshowing an embodiment with one segment separated.

FIG. 3 is a top view perspective of a second embodiment of themulti-purpose eating utensil in accordance with the present inventionshowing an embodiment with two segments that are in the joinedconfiguration as a single unit or piece.

FIG. 4 is a top view perspective of a second embodiment of themulti-purpose eating utensil in accordance with the present inventionshowing an embodiment with one segment separated.

FIG. 5 is a top view perspective of a third embodiment of themulti-purpose eating utensil in accordance with the present inventionshowing an embodiment with two segments joined to each other.

FIG. 6 is a top view perspective of a third embodiment of themulti-purpose eating utensil in accordance with the present inventionshowing an embodiment with two segments separated apart.

FIG. 7 is a top view perspective of a fourth embodiment of themulti-purpose eating utensil in accordance with the present inventionshowing an embodiment where the device is used for a non-eating purposeas a paper clip.

FIG. 8 is a top view perspective of a fifth embodiment of themulti-purpose eating utensil of the present invention showing anembodiment where the device is used for a non-eating purpose.

It is noted that the drawings are intended to depict only typical orexemplary embodiments of the invention and this many not be necessarilyto scale. Accordingly, the drawings should not be considered as limitingthe scope of the invention. The invention will now be described ingreater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED INVENTION AND PREFERREDEMBODIMENTS

The figures are referred to herein to describe certain exemplaryembodiments of the invention. FIG. 1, FIG. 3 and FIG. 5 illustrate, in atop perspective view, a first and second embodiment of the multi-purposeeating utensil assembly 10 of the present invention. In these first andsecond embodiments, the assembly is planar or nearly planar and isheart-shaped 11 or circular 12 with two segments 13 and 14 that arejoined or intact and made separable as described herein. The eatingutensil assemblies 10 and 11 of the first and second embodimentscomprise two fork implements and that are formed having first foodengagement members 6 or tines 6 for the first fork implement and secondfood engagement members 6 or tines 6 for the second fork implement. Asdescribed herein, the eating utensil assembly of the invention canaccommodate any combination of food engagement members, such as a fork,spoon, knife or pick. As exemplified in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 and FIG. 5, whenthe device is in its single unit or intact configuration 11 and 12 sothat the segments 13 and 14 are joined or otherwise not completelyseparated, the food engagement members 5 or tines 5 of the first forkimplement or segment 13 are made to fit together and complement orinterlock the food engagement members 6 or tines 6 of the second forkimplement or segment 14. The segments 13 and 14 are separable asdescribed herein along a line of weakness or weakened boundary 7 betweenthe two segments 13 and 14 that can be unjoined or separated upon theapplication of pressure, while keeping the integrity of the foodengagement members 6 or tines 6 intact.

When the segments are separated, as is exemplified in FIG. 2, FIG. 4 orFIG. 6, each segment can become its own eating utensil with at least onefood engagement member 6. In some embodiments only one segment 13 or 14is capable of being used as an eating utensil because the second orother segments do not comprise food engagement members. In the separatedor unjoined segments 13 and 14 of the first or second embodiments thatare exemplified in FIG. 2, FIG. 4 or FIG. 6, the tines or eating utensilfood engagement members 6 of the fork implements can be easilyappreciated. The eating utensil segment has a region opposite the forktines or eating utensil food engagement members 6 that can be used as ahandle 3 for manipulation of the eating utensil by the user. Asdescribed herein, the eating utensil can accommodate other foodengagement implements or members. For example, in the segments 13 and 14of the first and second embodiments as shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 4 or FIG.6, the eating utensil of the invention can also have a knife member 5 onone or each of the segments. As shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 4 or FIG. 6, theknife member 5 can be serrated, but other embodiments of the knifemember can also be unserrated or in the form of blade. The knifeengagement member 5 can be disposed laterally on each segment 13 or 14.Upon separation, the user can employ the fork implement 4 or 6 of thefirst segment 13 along with a knife implement 5 of a second segment asdesired 14. Alternatively, the user can employ one segment of oneassembly for a particular purpose while also employment another segmentfrom another assembly for a particular purpose. Any combination iscontemplated by the invention. The handle 3 members further include aregion 15 that can be used to place desired text, imagery or otherbranding devices. If the knife food engagement member 5 of the implementor eating utensil is employed by the user, a region opposite the knifefood engagement member can be used as a handle or to otherwisemanipulate the eating utensil.

The device of the invention preferably includes at least one foodengagement member. In one embodiment, the device of the inventionincludes at least two eating utensils or food engagement members. Theeating utensils or food engagement members may be in the form of forks,spoons, knives, picks or other objects that facilitate food consumptionand selection and any combination thereof. In one embodiment, the eatingutensils are at least two forks or at least two spoons or at least twoknives and any combination thereof. In another embodiment, the eatingutensils are at least two forks and at least one knife. In anotherembodiment of the invention, the eating utensils are at least two forksand at least two knives. In another embodiment of the invention, theeating utensils are at least one fork and at least one knife. In yetanother embodiment of the invention, the eating utensils are at leasttwo forks and at least two knives and at least two spoons.

The tines of the fork members are formed from resilient materials asdescribed herein and the device has a flat or nearly flat cross section,thus presenting a planar or nearly planar surface. The multi-purposedevice assembly of the invention comprises at least one segment or foodengagement member, or at least two segments or food engagement members,or at least three segments or food engagement members, or at least foursegments or food engagement members, or at least five segments or foodengagement members, or at least six segments or food engagement members,or at least seven segments or food engagement members, or at least eightsegments or food engagement members, or at least nine segments or foodengagement members, or at least ten segments or food engagement members.

The segments or food engagement members can be fused or joined togetherso that the segments or food engagement members form a single piece,article or structure. The junction between the fused or joined segmentsor food engagement members can be weakened or made susceptible toseparation by pressure so that the segments or food engagement memberscan be easily unjoined or separated from each other without damaging thefunctionality of the eating utensils or other non-eating functions ofthe device as described herein. One of skill in the art would befamiliar with any of a number of methods known in the art to render thejunction between the joined or fused segments or food engagement membersweak or susceptible to separation, including employing a perforatedjunction or other line of weakness bordering each segment, or a boundarybordering each segment that is thinned or made weaker by cutting, laserengraving, moulding and the like.

Each segment or food engagement members of the eating utensil assemblycan accommodate at least one form, or at least two forms, or at leastthree forms, or at least four forms, or at least five forms, or at leastsix forms of eating utensils. Such forms of eating utensils that can bepart of each segment or food engagement members can be a knife, fork,pick or spoon or any combination or hybrid thereof. In one embodiment,there is at least one segment or food engagement members to the eatingutensil assembly of the invention with at least one eating utensiltherein, such as a knife, fork, spoon or pick or any hybrid thereof. Inanother embodiment of the invention, there is at least one segment orfood engagement members to the cutlery of the invention and at least twoeating utensils therein, such as a fork and a knife, or a fork and aspoon, or a spoon and a knife, or any other combination or hybridthereof. In another embodiment of the invention, there is at least onesegment or food engagement member in the eating utensil assembly of theinvention with at least three food engagement members therein, such as afork, knife and spoon or any other combination or hybrid thereof. In yetanother embodiment of the invention, there are at least two segments orfood engagement members in the eating utensil assembly of the inventionand at least two or at least three food engagement members therein, suchas a fork, knife or a spoon or any combination or hybrid thereof.

The invention is also capable of being used for non-eating purposes. Inone embodiment of the invention, the non-eating purpose of the inventionis as a clip. By way of example, FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 illustrate how themulti-purpose device of the invention can be used in a non-eatingembodiment. All of the same features that apply to the eating utensilfunction as described herein are featured for the non-eating purposeembodiments except that the tines 4 or 6 serve to function as a clipmember, also now 4 or 6 in this embodiment. In order to function as aclip, the user will not separate the segments 13 or 14 at junction 7,but will keep them intact to some extent. This will allow the tine orclip member 4 or 6 that is part of the first segment 13 to serve as thefront or top part of the clip while the second segment 14 will functionas the bottom or back part of the clip, with the paper or other materialin between. In another embodiment of the invention, the device is usedas a clip for holding various items together, such as a paper bag. Anypurpose for which a clip may be used is intended. In another embodiment,the clip is a paper clip that holds sheets of paper together. In anotherembodiment, the clip is a paper clip that holds sheets of paper toanother surface, such as a folder, or a metal surface, or clothing. Inanother embodiment of the invention, the clip holds materials other thanpaper together, such as synthetic or non-synthetic materials. The clipmember is formed from the tines of the fork member, as described above,and thus present a planar surface that can be used as a clip for paperor other materials or items. Because the device of the invention hasmultiple segments, as described herein, the device is capable of beingused as multiple clips, depending on the number of fork members presentin a particular embodiment. In one embodiment, the device has at leastone fork member and therefore can be used as a single clip. In anotherembodiment, the device has at least two fork members and therefore canbe used as two clips. In another embodiment, the device has at leastthree fork members and therefore can be used as three clips. In anotherembodiment of the invention, the device has at least four fork members,and therefore can be used as four clips. In yet another embodiment ofthe invention, the device has at least five fork members, and thereforecan be used as five clips.

By rendering the eating utensil susceptible to multiple purposes, thedevice can serve dual functions for the same user or transaction. Forexample, a merchant selling goods, such as a food establishment ormarket, can use the device of the invention to advertise its services orto clip receipts, menus, paper or the like to bags or other deliverygoods, while the user can employ the same device as an eating utensilupon receipt of the goods and according to the disclosure herein.

The present invention can be manufactured from any suitable material. Byway of example, the material can include plastic, wood, paper,biodegradable cornstarch, or an edible, biodegradable oroxo-biodegradable material. One of skill in the art would be familiarwith the type of material that is suitable for use in the presentinvention including a wide-range of natural or synthetic orsemi-synthetic materials, including inorganic or organic solids or othermaterials that are used in the manufacture of industrial products. Inone embodiment, the material is made from a natural substance, such aswood or other suitable plant material for example plywood or rubber. Inanother embodiment, the material is a plastic or other polymer of low orhigh molecular mass that may also contain other substances that enhancethe performance of the material. For example, the synthetic material caninclude bakelite, nylon, synthetic rubber, polyethylene, polystyrene,polyvinyl chloride, polytetrafluoroethylene, or polypropylene. Inanother embodiment, the device is made from magnetic materials that canbe attached to the appropriate surfaces.

The shape of the device of the invention can vary to accommodatedifferent purposes, needs or desires. The shape of the inventive devicecan be one with no sides or with any number of sizes, such as one, or atleast two, or at least three, or at least four, or at least five, or atleast six, or at least seven, or at least eight, or at least nine, or atleast ten, or at least eleven, or at least twelve, or at least thirteen,or at least fourteen, or at least fifteen, or at least sixteen. By wayof example, the shape of the invention can be of any non-geometric orany geometric shape, such as an oval, an ellipse, a square, a rhombus, adiamond, a triangle, a rectangle, a cylinder, a trapezoid, a pentagon, ahexagon, a septagon, an octagon, a nonagon, a concave polygon, aconstructible polygon, a kite, a convex polygon, a cyclic polygon, aequiangular polygon, a equilateral polygon, a regular polygon, apolydrafter, a balbis, a henagon, or digon. By way of example,non-geometric shapes comprise a heart or any other part of the anatomyof a living organism, a dog or any other animal, any animate or anyinanimate object such as a tree or a car or other vehicle, or anycelestial object, or any trademark or logo or any other sign used toidentify a person or business entity.

The size and dimensions of the device of the invention can vary toaccommodate different purposes for needs. In one embodiment, theinvention has a length, width, radius or other comparable measurementacross any two points of at least 0.5 centimeter, or at least 0.6centimeter, or at least 0.7 centimeter, or at least 0.8 centimeter, orat least 0.9 centimeter, or at least 1.0 centimeter, or at least 1.1 to1.5 centimeters, or at least 1.6 to 2.0 centimeters, or at least 2.1 to3.0 centimeters, or at least 3.1 to 4.0 centimeters, or at least 4.1 to5.0 centimeters, or at least 5.1 to 6.0 centimeters, or at least 6.1 to7.0 centimeters, or at least 7.1 to 8.0 centimeters, or at least 8.1 to9.0 centimeters, or at least 9.1 to 10.0 centimeters, or at least 10.1to 11.0 centimeters, or at least 11.1 to 12.0 centimeters, or at least12.1 to 13.0 centimeters, or at least 13.1 to 14.0 centimeters, or atleast 14.1 to 15.0 centimeters, or at least 15.1 to 16.0 centimeters, orat least 16.1 to 17.0 centimeters, or at least 18.0 to 20.0 centimeters.In one embodiment the material has a thickness of at least 0.1millimeter, or at least 0.2 millimeter, or at least 0.3 millimeter, orat least 0.4 millimeter, or at least 0.5 millimeter, or at least 0.6millimeter, or at least 0.7 millimeter, or at least 0.8 millimeter, orat least 0.9 millimeter, or at least 1.0 millimeter, or at least 1.1 to1.5 millimeters, or at least 1.6 to 2.0 millimeters, or at least 2.1 to2.5 millimeters, or at least 2.6 to 3.0 millimeters, or at least 3.1 to5.0 millimeters, or at least 5.1 to 10.0 millimeters, or at least 10.1to 15.0 millimeters, or at least 15.1 to 20.0 millimeters, or at least20.1 to 25.0 millimeters.

1. An eating utensil assembly comprising two fork members and twosegments; wherein a first segment has a first fork member therein; asecond segment has a second fork member therein; and said first and thesecond segments are joined together such that the tines of said firstfork member mate with the tines of said second fork member when thefirst and second segments are joined.
 2. The eating utensil assembly ofclaim 1, further comprising one knife member that is located laterallywithin said first segment.
 3. The eating utensil assembly of claim 2,wherein said knife member is serrated.
 4. The eating utensil assembly ofclaim 2, wherein said knife member is an edge.
 5. The eating utensilassembly of claim 2, further comprising a second knife member that islocated laterally within said second segment.
 6. The eating utensilassembly of claim 5, wherein said first knife member is serrated andsaid second knife member is an edge.
 7. An eating utensil assemblycomprising two pick members and two segments wherein the first segmenthas a first pick member therein; wherein the second segment has a secondpick member therein and wherein said first and the second segments areassembled in a joined state such that said pick members mate togetherwhen the first and second segments are joined.
 8. The eating utensilassembly of claims 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 7, wherein the boundarybetween said first and second segments is perforated.
 9. The eatingutensil assembly of claim 1, wherein the tines of the fork member areused as a paper clip.
 10. The eating utensil assembly of claim 1,wherein the assembly is used as a mark for indicating to a user thelocation where the user was previously reading in a piece of literature.11. A paper clip assembly comprising two fork members and two segmentswherein a first segment has a first fork member therein and a secondsegment has a second fork member therein and said fork members can beused to clip a paper to another object.